Old Caheragh Church and Caheragh Poets in Irish, Na Baróidigh, (Seán, Seámus, Riocárd) Lissane, Donnacha, Muiris and Paul Ó h-Anngáin, Donnacha Ó Briain, Diarmuid Ó Crualaoich, Mícheál Óg Ó Longáin (lived later Glanmire), Church Bell Provided by Patrick Rocky Mountain O’Brien of Dromore.

Thanks to Peter O’Driscoll, Aughaville now San Francisco.

It is difficult as you drive from Drimoleague to Skibbereen over the improved farmland now used for intensive dairying that pre Famine, Caheragh was one of the most densely populated, non urban areas in the world.  The parish had a population of more than 10,000.  It was along with Drinagh and Castlehaven in the 18th century  a centre of Gaelic Poetry.   Eugene Daly in the Skibbereen Journal has recently published an article giving more details:

In the records of mid 18th century the Catholic Church in  Caheragh was a small shed and cabin:

Further Report Conveyed to His Grace Lord Primate of the Church of Ireland in Dublin 17th December 1731 on the State of Popery including, Aughadown, Ballinadee, Caheragh, a small shed and cabin, Drimoleague, an altar moved from place to place, Fanlobbus (Dunmanway), three small huts open at one end, Drinagh one small hut open at one end, Kilbrittain, Kinsale, Desertserges, Innishannon, Ross, in a field under a hedge, Rathclarin, Schull and Kilmoe three Mass houses three thatched cabins Priests mostly Friars daily moving to and from France and other Popish Countries from Crookhaven, in the Parish of Kilmoe

The old church was built by Fr. Dore, one of a number of Tipperary Priests seconded to the Dioceses of Cork.  Father Dore appears as an elector for O’Connell/Roche in the 1841 election.  It is believed that the church was built with stones from Ballyourane Castle formerly a McCarthy castle.

The Priests were dynamic school and church builders, introduced Parish Registers and were highly active politically.   Included were Father Quin in Durrus, Father Ryan Drimoleague and Father Doheney in Dunmanway.

Father Quin:

The Progression of the Parish Priests of Durrus, West Cork. from having the Tithe Proctors of the Rev. Alcock attempt to seize the bed of Father Quinn in the 1820 to Father Michael Daly 1875 Living in former Landlord Evanson House at Friendly Cove, and Father Bowen living at former Evanson Landlord House Ardgoena and Various Clergy living in another Evanson House, Durrus Court in the early 20th Century and some 19th and early 20th century Priests, including Father Bernane, Kearney..

The Tithes in 1833: ‘The year’s tithe due to Mr. Alcock, the Rector Durrus, was nearly collected in one day. The summary collection was effected by the police who act as drivers. In the case referred to the determination to to obtain ‘Tithe Distress’ was so great that I have been informed that the house where the parish priest the Revered Quin was saying Mass was forcibly entered and a bed the only item of value would have been taken but for the suggestion of some Protestant who objected to that mode of insult to a Clergyman.

Father Ryan:

Dublin Penny Journal, Journey to Durrus 1836, from Butler’s Gift (Drimoleague), West Cork, John Windle Cork Antiquarian and Father John Ryan, Drimoleague to the Rev. Alleyn Evanson.

Old Caheragh Parish Church, the church was built by Rev. David Dore about 1823, There are are four or five priest buried in the grounds Rev, Dore, Rev Palmer, Rev Wall, Rev Stack & Rev Hayes. Two outside on the grounds and three inside under the church floor.

The arch over the front gate with the bell tower was donated by a Patrick O’Brien who was related by marriage to the O’Driscoll of Coolbawn. He is better known as Patrick Rocky Mountain O’Brien.  He did write a book still available, Title Birth and Adoption: A book of Prose and Poetry.

Patrick Rock Mountain O’Brien was involved in the Fenian Movement in New York where he died about 1925. He was born in the townland of Dromore and one of the few people to board a ship bound for America at Bantry Bay. He would be a relative of the O’Brien family in Dromore.

The grounds where the church was built was part of Nick Keohan (Keohane) farm also the new graveyard.

In the 1960s after the new parish church was built the parish then purchased land for the new graveyard attached to the east side of the old church grounds. During the purchase they had the area mapped. nearby was part of a Goggin family farm and the old Murphy home. The original Murphy home was on no-mans land a rocky place by the side of the road. (Better known as a home built by a family that had been evicted by a landlord a family that found shelter by the side of the road) .

When you entered the gate to the church grounds on your right stood the old parish hall and attached to the hall was Danny & Nell O’Neil’s home. Just a few feet away was Jerry & Mary Murphys home where they raised 12 children on Jer Murphys wages as a shoe (cobblers).

On the stage in that Parish Hall in the winter of 1959 a play called the Damsel from Dublin was performed involving the match maker stage name was Brian Cleary that trick-ster.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Caheragh Poets, courtesy  Eugene Daly’s 2015 article in Skibbereen Historical Journal: